260
FLAMING
YOUTH
He’s taken to thinking of others besides himself at this late date, has T.
Jameson James.
A close look at Death
sometimes works these miracles.”
“Trying to make his peace with Heaven?” “No. He’s honest in this, just as he has always been in his selfishness. He’s thinking only of Dee.” “Does he really care for her, Osterhout?”
“T think he’d die without her.” “Tsn’t there a good chance of his dying anyway?” “Nothing to bank on.” “What does Dee say to the separation idea?” “Won't listen. Just turns away and stops her ears.” More than ever convinced that Wollaston must be kept away from Dorrisdale at all costs, Scott put in the hours between his talk with Osterhout and his appointment with Pat, striving to locate the Englishman on the longdistance telephone, but without success.
Upon his arrival at the Knoll, Scott found only Ralph Fentriss in possession. “Pat is just starting back from Dee’s,” said the ostensible head of the Fentriss household, after a hearty greeting. “She telephoned. Pretty rough on Dee, this, isn’t it?” “She’s standing up under it like the sport she is,” said Scott. They chatted of local matters, Fentriss being patently restless. At the sound of Pat’s step on the threshold he said with relief: “You'll excuse me, Cary. I’ve got a business engage: ment downtown.” The visitor repressed a smile. So Ralph Fentriss’s evening “business engagements” remained a constant quantity. A casual sort of father. Had he been less casual, had Pat been less unprotected—a throb of remorse and self-contempt sickened Scott to the core of his heart,
